U.S. patent number 7,439,457 [Application Number 11/803,040] was granted by the patent office on 2008-10-21 for apparatus for determining relative density of produce using weighing and size measuring.
Invention is credited to John E Meschter.
United States Patent |
7,439,457 |
Meschter |
October 21, 2008 |
Apparatus for determining relative density of produce using
weighing and size measuring
Abstract
The higher the reading of relative density, liquid weight per
unit volume, of pieces of produce such as fruits, the juicier the
piece of produce is. By comparing a number of pieces of produce of
the same type and species and ranking them, the juiciest pieces of
produce may be easily selected and purchased by a shopper. An
arrangement of linkages and a sliding spring element creates a
device with two inputs, one input being proportional to the volume
of the produce based on a representative diameter, and the other
input being an approximation of the weight of the produce based on
the deflection of a spring. The two inputs are mechanically
combined to create one output indicative of density, and thus
juiciness, and a pointer is employed whose deflection is
proportional to the quotient of the weight and volumetric inputs of
each piece of produce tested by the shopper.
Inventors: |
Meschter; John E (New York
City, NY) |
Family
ID: |
39855583 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/803,040 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
177/251; 177/246;
177/260; 177/262; 73/433; 73/865; 73/865.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01G
3/08 (20130101); G01G 21/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01G
3/08 (20060101); G01G 21/22 (20060101); G01G
23/14 (20060101); G01N 9/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;177/151,152,246,247,251,260,261,262 ;73/73,433,32R,865,865.8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rogers; David A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nathans; Robert
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for providing an indication of relative density of
similarly shaped pieces of produce regardless of variations in size
and weight thereof comprising: (a) a produce piece support means
coupled to a base member; (b) a spring biasing means for enabling
varying deflection of said produce piece support means in response
to varying weights of said similarly shaped pieces of produce
placed thereon; (c) produce piece size measuring means; (d) spring
constant modifying means for (a) non-linearly increasing the
effective spring constant of said spring biasing means as a cubic
function in response to increases in the size of a particular piece
of produce sensed by said measuring means, and (b) non-linearly
decreasing the effective spring constant of said spring biasing
means as a cubic function in response to decreases in the size of a
particular piece of produce sensed by said measuring means.
2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring constant modifying
means includes a cantilevered spring contacting a fulcrum member
and coupling means coupled between said spring biasing means and
said produce piece size measuring means, for decreasing the
effective length of said cantilevered spring portion in response to
increases in size indications produced by said produce size
measuring means, and increasing the effective length of said
cantilevered spring portion in response to decreases in size
indications produced by said produce size measuring means.
4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
5. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said produce size measuring means
comprises a produce contact member, resting against produce
supported by said produce piece support means.
6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
7. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said produce contacting member is a
pivoted lid.
8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
9. Apparatus for providing an indication of relative density of
similarly shaped pieces of produce regardless of variations in size
and weight thereof comprising: (a) a produce piece beam support
member coupled to a base member and being supported by a fulcrum
member for enabling varying angular rotations of said produce piece
support means in response to varying weights of said similarly
shaped pieces of produce placed upon said produce piece beam
support member; (b) produce size measuring means; (c) spring
biasing means coupled to said produce beam support member
comprising a cantilevered spring portion contacting said fulcrum
member and (d) coupling means coupling said spring biasing means
and said produce piece measuring means together for (a) shifting
the position of said cantilevered spring portion with respect to
said fulcrum member for decreasing the effective length of said
cantilevered spring portion in response to increases in size
indications produced by said produce size measuring means, and (b)
increasing the effective length of said cantilevered spring portion
in response to decreases in size indications produced by said
produce size measuring means.
10. Apparatus of claim 9 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
11. Apparatus of claim 9 wherein said size measuring means includes
a produce contact member, resting against produce being supported
by said support means.
12. Apparatus of claim 11 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
13. Apparatus of claim 11 wherein said produce contacting member is
a pivoted lid.
14. Apparatus of claim 13 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
15. Apparatus for providing a readout indication of relative
density of similarly shaped pieces of produce regardless of
variations in size and weight thereof comprising: (a) a produce
piece beam support member supported by a fulcrum member for
enabling varying angular rotations of said produce piece support
means in response to varying weights of said similarly shaped
pieces of produce placed upon said produce piece beam support
member; (b) produce size measuring means; (c) spring biasing means
positioned on said produce beam support member including a
cantilevered spring portion contacting said fulcrum member and (d)
linkage means for translating the position of said cantilevered
spring portion with respect to said fulcrum member in response to
angular changes in said produce size measuring means for (a)
decreasing the effective length of said cantilevered spring portion
in response to increases in size indications produced by said
produce size measuring means, and (b) increasing the effective
length of said cantilevered spring portion in response to decreases
in size indications produced by said produce size measuring
means.
16. Apparatus of claim 15 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having at pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
17. Apparatus of claim 15 wherein said size measuring means
includes a produce contact member, resting against produce being
supported by said support means.
18. Apparatus of claim 17 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
19. Apparatus of claim 17 wherein said produce contacting member is
a pivoted lid.
20. Apparatus of claim 19 wherein said produce piece support means
comprises an elongated beam pivotably coupled to said base member
and including readout means having a pointer member movable over a
scale for indicating changes in relative measured densities of said
produce.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the measurement of the relative
densities of produce.
Commercial sorting of fruits and vegetables (hereafter referred to
as "produce") often utilizes density measurement (the weight of the
produce divided by the volume of the produce) as a way of
discriminating between produce that is ripe and produce that is not
ripe. This is because ripe produce has higher density than unripe
produce.
For example, grapes are floated in tubs of saltwater with a
predetermined specific gravity. Those grapes with high enough
density to be considered ripe and sweet will just sink in the
saltwater, while those grapes of insufficient density to be
considered ripe and sweet will float in the saltwater. The grapes
that float pass over and the grapes that sink are collected.
Similarly, pieces of produce such as oranges or peaches are each
weighed, and the volume of each piece is measured; the quotient
density is used to separate or grade the produce not only by size
but also by ripeness. Thus the produce is sold in segregated groups
by size and density.
However, after the produce has been so sorted, or if it has not
been sorted at all, it often sits in warehouses, or on the store
shelves, where it is subjected to variations in temperature and
humidity such that the ripeness and desirability of the produce may
change over time. The ultimate consumer of the produce wants to be
able to ascertain whether or not the produce has desirable density
and therefore ripeness or juiciness. In other words, the consumer
wants to be able to tell if the orange or other produce being
purchased is juicy and sweet or dried out and/or mealy in
texture.
It is possible in the prior art to measure the density of produce
by weighing the individual piece and measuring the individual
volume, then dividing the weight by the volume to obtain the
density. Comparing this value to an average, or expected value of
density for that particular produce at conditions of ripeness or
juiciness provides a discriminator of ripeness or juiciness for the
individual piece in question.
Unfortunately, while it is fairly simple to measure the weight of a
piece of produce, it is difficult to measure the volume because the
shape of the produce is usually irregular and non-spherical. This
makes it difficult to approximate volume by assuming that produce
geometry matches known and easily calculated volumes of familiar
geometric shapes, specifically spheres.
Because of the irregular geometry, the most commonly used method
for measuring volume is to measure the volume of a liquid displaced
by the volume of the produce. The volume of liquid displaced is
measured in volumetrically graded containers and the volume of the
produce is imputed from the volume of liquid displaced. Thus in
order to measure density, the produce must be placed in a liquid
bath.
Another method of measuring produce volume is by making numerous
and precise measurements of the dimensions of the produce and
computing, by many possible algorithms known in the art, the actual
volume.
Yet another method is to place the produce in a chamber of known
shape and volume (such chambers are often referred to as Helmholtz
resonators) and to measure the difference in the resonance of the
volume of air in the cavity with and without the produce. The
resonance is a function of volume, and known algorithms are used to
compute the volume of the produce.
Each of the foregoing methods, has a level of cost and difficulty
which makes it undesirable as a quick means of ascertaining liquid
content per unit volume of the produce, also called, and
hereinafter referred to as relative density or "juiciness". A
consumer standing in a supermarket or other venue, confronted with
a bin full of produce, might like to have a simple,
non-destructive, fast and sufficient means at his or her disposal
for determining if the piece of produce in hand, that looks, feels,
smells and otherwise seems acceptable, is also juicy. The present
invention is intended to address the difficulties and shortcomings
of prior methods and to provide a low-cost, simple, non-damaging,
fast and sufficient means of ascertaining the relative liquid
content of pieces of produce.
Produce of a single species is substantially similar in shape
regardless of size. This enables comparative ranking of produce
density because the errors of measurement of weight and
particularly volume are constant multiples of the actual volume and
weight. Any ranking of densities containing such errors in
constituent weight or volume will still yield a correct ranking of
density, even though the absolute measurement of density in
engineering units will be incorrect. This constitutes an important
advantage of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The produce density measuring device combines a measure derived
from the weight of the produce with a measure indicative of the
volume of the produce to give a visual indication related to the
relative density of the produce. The visual readout indication, is
not necessarily calibrated in so-called engineering units and the
measures derived from weight or volume are not necessarily measures
of the actual volume or weight of the produce in engineering
units.
In use, produce is placed on a cup upon a pivotable beam and a lid,
is pivoted around its hinge until it rests against the surface of
the produce. A pointer indicates by its position relative to an
index or scale, the relative density and thus juice content of the
produce. The higher the reading of relative density, the juicier
the piece of produce is. By comparing a number of pieces of produce
of the same type and species and ranking them, the juiciest pieces
of produce may be beneficially purchased by a shopper in a produce
store.
A simple arrangement of linkages and sliding spring elements create
a device with two inputs, one input being an approximation of the
volume of the produce based on a representative diameter and the
consequent angle of a contacting lid, and the other input being an
approximation of the weight of the produce based on the deflection
of a spring. The two inputs are mechanically combined to create one
output in the form of a pointer whose deflection is proportional to
the quotient of the weight and volumetric inputs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a cantilever spring and weight.
FIG. 2 is an elevation of the cantilever spring and weight, with
the spring in a first position.
FIG. 3 is an elevation of the cantilever spring and weight, with
the spring in a second position.
FIG. 4 is an elevation of the cantilever spring and weight, with
the spring in a third position.
FIG. 5 is an oblique view of a cantilever spring and weight with a
hinged plate.
FIG. 6 is an elevation of a cantilever spring and weight with a
hinged plate, a link between the hinged plate and spring, with the
spring in a first position.
FIG. 7 is an elevation of a cantilever spring and weight with a
hinged plate, a link between the hinged plate and spring, with the
spring in a second position.
FIG. 8 is an elevation of a cantilever spring and weight with a
hinged plate, a link between the hinged plate and spring, with the
spring in a third position.
FIG. 9 is an oblique view of a cantilever spring and weight with a
hinged plate and a link between the hinged plate and the spring.
The hinged plate is in an open position so as to show the link.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1, a spring 1, having a cantilever portion, 2, is held to a
beam, 3 by fixing means, hereinafter referred to as cleats, 4. The
beam, 3 is pivoted about pivot point 5 on ground plate or base
member 6. A first spherical known mass of known volume, hereinafter
referred to as a first weight, 7 is placed on the beam 3 at a known
location 8. The cantilever portion 2 of the spring, 3, hereinafter
referred to as the leaf, rests against the post 9, and is deflected
by the first weight such that the tip of the beam 10 points to a
fixed point on the scale 11. It will be clear to those practiced in
the art that the greater is the mass of the first weight 7, the
closer will be the deflection of the tip 10 of the beam 3 toward
the ground plate 6. It will further be clear to practitioners of
the art that the deflection of the beam tip 10 is proportional to
the deflection of the leaf, 2.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first weight 7 and the position 12
of the spring 1 on the beam 3 relative to the pivot 5 are chosen
such that the tip of the beam 10 points to a given position on the
scale 11, as shown in FIG. 2. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the first
weight 7 is replaced by a second spherical known mass of known
volume and hereinafter referred to as the second weight 15, having
a different volume and a larger mass than the first weight 7. If
the tip of the beam 10 is to remain pointing to the same given
position on the scale 11, the spring 1 will have to be moved to a
second position 13 such that the cantilever length of the leaf 2 to
the point of contact with the fulcrum post 9 is shorter than it was
with the first weight 7 as in FIG. 2, and the effective spring
constant of the leaf is greater than it was with the first weight 7
as in FIG. 2.
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the second weight 15 is replaced by a
third spherical known mass of known volume and hereinafter referred
to as the third weight 16, having a different volume and a larger
mass than the second weight 15. If the tip of the beam 10 is to
remain pointing to the same given position on the scale 11 as in
FIGS. 3 and 2, the spring 1 will have to be moved to a third
position 14 (also illustrated as "C" in FIG. 1) such that the
cantilever length of the leaf 2 to the point of contact with the
post 9 is shorter than it was with the second weight 15 as in FIG.
3, and the effective spring constant of the leaf spring element 2
is greater than it was with the second weight 15 as in FIG. 3.
The deflection of the point of force application on a cantilever
element such as the spring leaf 2 is proportional to the cube of
the length of the cantilever to that point, and the force applied
at that point. The translation or shifting of the spring 1 relative
to the pivot 5 and consequently post 9 effectively shortens the
cantilever of the leaf spring element 2. The cantilever illustrated
in FIG. 1 can, by virtue of movement of the spring 1 relative to
the beam 3, be adjusted to support a large range of weights without
the beam 3 contacting the ground plate 6.
Because of the cubic relationship to the cantilever length, at a
given deflection of the tip of the beam 10, the ratio of any two
weights placed on the beam will vary as the cube of the inverse
ratio of lengths of the cantilever 2 needed to maintain a fixed
deflection of the tip of the beam. Put more simply, this means that
if the length of the cantilever 2 is reduced by half, the weight
deflecting it will have to increase by a factor of 8 in order to
keep the tip of the beam 10 pointing to the given point on the
scale 11. Similarly, if the length of the cantilever 2 is reduced
by two thirds, the weight will have to be increase by a factor of
27 to keep the tip of the beam 10 pointing to the given point on
the scale 11.
Thus a beam with an adjustable length cantilever spring is a
compact means of indicating three orders of magnitude of weight on
a single scale. By arranging the numbering of the scale 11 to be
related to the position of the leaf 2, such a scale might be
constructed. The renumbering of such a scale to indicate weight is
addressed below.
FIG. 5 is an oblique view illustration of the cantilever spring
leaf 2 and beam 3 described supra, but with the addition of a
hinged plate 17, hereinafter referred to as the lid 17. The lid 17
is pivoted and so arranged as to be able to lie against the first
or other weight. The pivot is, in this instance, (though not
necessarily) the same as the pivot 5 of the beam 3, and will form
an angle with the beam 3, as illustrated by the pointer 18 and the
angle scale 19.
FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the assembly shown in an oblique
view in FIG. 5, with a link 20 connected to the lid 17 by pivot 22
and to the spring 1 by pivot 21. In FIG. 6 the lid is touching the
surface of first weight 7. Because of the connection of the spring
1 to the lid 17 by the link 20, the angular position of the lid
will define a position of the spring relative to the beam 3. This
position will, in turn, define the length of the cantilever leaf 2
to its point of contact with the post 9. The length of the leaf 2
defines the effective spring constant of the spring 1 and
consequently the deflection due to an applied force of the tip of
the beam 10 relative to the scale 11.
In FIG. 7, the first weight 7 has been replaced by the second
weight 15, and the lid 17 is touching the surface of the second
weight 15. Again because of the linkage of the lid 17 to the spring
1 by the link 20, the position of the spring 1 is defined by the
angular position of the lid 17 and the position of the spring 1
relative to the beam 3 determines the length of the leaf 2 to its
point of contact with the post 9. The length of the leaf defines
the effective spring constant of the spring 1 and consequently the
deflection of the tip of the beam 10 relative to the scale 11.
In FIG. 8, the second weight 15 has been replaced by the third
weight 16, and the lid 17 is touching the surface of the third
weight 15. Again because of the linkage of the lid 17 to the spring
1 by the link 20, the position of the spring 1 is defined by the
angular position of the lid 17 and the position of the spring 1
relative to the beam 3 determines the length of the leaf 2 to its
point of contact with the post 9. The length of the leaf to its
point of contact with post 9 defines the effective spring constant
of the spring 1 and consequently the deflection of the tip of the
beam 10 relative to the scale 11.
The third weight 16 was defined earlier as having greater mass and
a different volume than the second weight 15, and the second weight
15 was defined as having a greater mass and a different volume than
the first weight. Now, for the purpose of the discussion of this
novel invention, we will add a further relationship to the first
weight 7, the second weight 15 and the third weight 16: we will
require that the density of each is equal. Density is the quotient
of weight in the numerator and volume in the denominator. This
means that the volume will always be chosen to equal a constant
proportion of the weight for each of the first, second and third
weights 7, 15 and 16.
An objective of the invention is to make a relative measure of the
juice content of produce by making a relative measure of density.
Thus it is desirable for pieces of produce having similar juice
content, though of disparate size and weight, to have equal readout
of a value related to density on the novel device. Returning to the
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, now with the first weight 7, second weight 15 and
third weight 16 having also equal density, it will be clear to the
practitioner (skilled worker in the art) that a certain
configuration of the lid 17 touching the surface of the spherical
weight (7, 15, 16), the link 20, the spring 1, the beam 3, the post
9, the leaf 2 and the pivot 5 (or pivots, if there are separate
pivot points), will result in a readout that is the same when the
density of the object (in this instance the first 7, second, 15 or
third, 16 weight, but in the general instance an object of produce)
is the same.
Specifically, this constant readout for a constant density of the
object is possible because there is a cubic mathematical
relationship between spherical diameter and mass for a material of
constant density and a cubic mathematical relationship between the
lengths and spring constants of a cantilever spring. Because of
this, a linear change in the diameter of a spherical weight can
effect a linear change in the length of a cantilever spring by
employing link 20 that effects an approximately constant
proportional change in leaf 2 length for a change in lid 17 angle
as indicated by the pointer over the angle scale 19, such angle
change being in turn approximately proportional to a change in
diameter of the object and the corresponding cubic change in volume
and thus weight (in the instance of constant density) is matched by
the cubic change in spring stiffness so that the readout on the
scale 11 remains constant.
Accordingly, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention
employs:
(a) a produce piece support means in the form of a pivotable beam
3, coupled to a base member 6 via a spring biasing means 1 and 2
for producing varying deflection of the produce piece support means
in response to varying weights of similarly shaped pieces of
produce placed thereon; (b) produce piece size measuring means 17
in the form of a pivotable lid; (c) spring constant modifying means
20 for non-linearly increasing the effective spring constant of the
spring biasing means as a cubic function in response to increases
in the size (typically the approximate radius) of a particular
piece of produce sensed by the pivotable lid measuring means and
for non-linearly decreasing the effective spring constant of the
spring biasing means as a cubic function in response to decreases
in the size of a particular piece of produce sensed by the
pivotable lid measuring means.
The spring constant modifying means includes a translatable,
shiftable, cantilevered spring portion or leaf 2, contacting a
fulcrum member 9, and linkage coupling means 20 coupled between the
cantilevered spring portion of the spring biasing means and the
produce piece size measuring means, for decreasing the effective
length of the cantilevered spring portion in response to increases
in size indications produced by the pivotable lid produce size
measuring means and increasing the effective length of the
cantilevered spring portion in response to decreases in size
indications produced by the pivotable lid produce size measuring
means.
It is not an object of this novel invention to claim the invention
of density measurement, but rather to describe a novel combination
of elements that together comprise a new, compact, rapid and
inexpensive means of using relative density to compare and rank
objects by a value related to density regardless of size and weight
disparity.
By adding an adjustable degree of freedom between the lid 17 in
FIG. 6 and the link 20, such that the location of the pivot 22
relative to the pivot point of the lid (in this instance 5) can be
changed, the same device can be adjusted for different density
ranges that might otherwise lie outside the range of motion of the
tip of the beam 10. In addition, with the lid 17 maintained at a
fixed angle to the beam 3 as indicated by the angle scale 19 and
pointer 18, the same device can be adjusted to accommodate and
measure 3 orders of magnitude of weight change. With calibration,
such a device can furthermore measure weight in accurate and
absolute engineering units.
Each measured object of produce is generally based on the same set
of deliberate assumptions:
1. Produce of the same species is in general of a similar
shape.
2. Produce of the kind measured by this invention is made up
primarily of water; other solids are a small proportion of the
overall mass, and remain relatively constant for a given species
and weight of produce.
3. Preferably, produce with an approximate axis of radial symmetry,
and, in a plane more or less perpendicular to this axis, and having
approximate maximum diameter that I call the "representative
diameter" will be measured with the invention.
4. All produce to be compared of a given species will be oriented
in the same way on the support beam.
5. The approximate axis of symmetry of the produce will be
substantially aligned with the vertical axis of the cup of the
invention. If it is not substantially aligned with the vertical
axis of the cup on the support beam, it will at least be aligned
substantially the same way from individual piece to individual
piece of a given species. 6. Precision of the preferred embodiment
is sufficient to discriminate between the liquid content of
individual pieces of produce of the same species, at least by
ranking of the pieces in comparison to each other.
While it may be possible to describe mathematically the exact
proportions and dimensions of this device in order to maximally
linearize the relationship between the quotient of volume and
weight and the deflection of the tip of the beam 10 as indicated by
the scale 11, it is not a requisite of this invention to do so.
This is because the device is intended to enable comparison of
quantities related to the densities of similar members of a species
of produce of disparate size and weight. Non-linearity of the
device is not relevant to the process of ranking produce of the
same species by relative density unless the relationship between
density and deflection of the tip of the beam is not monotonic with
density. The device is not intended for comparison of the relative
densities of produce of different species inter alia, nor is it
intended to accurately measure density in engineering units. Thus
so long as the deflection of the tip of the beam 10 as indicated by
the scale 11 increases with increasing density, given that the lid
17 is contacting the surface of the approximately spherical
produce, and subject to the assumptions supra, the device will
fulfill its inventive purpose.
In use, the device defined supra would be held by hand or placed on
an approximately level surface. The lid 17 would be opened to an
angle large enough to permit placement in a fixed location 8 (the
cup) on the beam 3 a piece of produce generally conforming to the
assumptions listed above. The lid 17 would be lowered until it was
in contact with the surface of the produce. If the density of the
piece being measured fell within the design range of the device,
the readout would visually indicate a value related to density.
Other pieces of the same species of produce would similarly replace
the first piece, permitting ranking of the measured pieces in order
of increasing density. The densest piece of produce would contain
the most juice. Of course, the device is not intended to evaluate
other aspects of desirability of the produce, such as blemishes or
bruises or moldy/damaged/rotted condition. If the device is so
constructed and adjusted as to be calibrated for specific
categories of produce, it is additionally possible to compare each
piece of produce to a standard value, to this end an additional
degree of freedom at hinge point 22 would permit fine adjustment of
the readout.
While the invention has been described in connection with preferred
embodiments, the description is not intended to limit the scope of
the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the
contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications,
and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of
the invention as indicated by the language of the appended
claims.
* * * * *